i know florence is bigger, but further away.
i think if you ride for a day, and wash all the schmeg and salt off you'll be fine. "soaking in it" is probably what dooms bearings and chains. remarksman surely knows more deets.
i've been to christmas valley dunes. that was fun.

Florence is way better, bigger dunes and only about 1/2 hour further from PDX then Sand Lake. Sand is not good for chains and sprockets, but muddy silt is harder on bearings then sand.........just stay out of the salt water. And yeah, the soft sand will work your motor a bit harder.
Far as drunken rednecks it's not as bad now that they have Prohibition in the dunes, but still...........there is NO shortage of stoopid at either place

Christmas Valley is way fun but a long drive.

__________________
"A man can never have too many motorcycles, like any good craftsman you need the proper tool for the job at hand. A man needs more tools than a hammer, the same goes for bikes." ~Mr. Cob~

Believe it or not, despite it being just over a Cape from me I have never ridden there.

You are required to have a flag and get a permit. Given the drunken antics that go on with quads and buggies there, I've never bothered to rig up a flag holder.

It's pretty warm and sunny out here today -- another day like this and I expect a fair bit of melting should be happening on the coast side of the Coast Range, at least on south-facing slopes. Maybe Diamond Mill is a reasonable choice.

Thinking of trailering my new to me dirt bike (04 KTM 450 EXC) over to Jordan Creek in the TSF. I'm picking Jordan Creek as it's low and close to Tillamook (which has a forecast of 58 degrees on Sunday - WTF?). Thinking mostly forest roads if we can avoid the snow and maybe an easy trail or two. More of an easy shake down ride for me, excuse to get outside and maybe be a good opportuntiy for other noob riders to laugh at each other.

This is my first ride on this bike so probably won't be a long ride, and although it's got a plate, it's not street legal so may be doing a loop(s) back to the truck to fill the puny tank (And maybe adjust a thing or two). Thinking of being out there around 10:00 or so. Willing to meet up for breakfast or meet you out there if anybody is interested. Can haul one more as well if you're on the way/near SW Portland.

Thinking of trailering my new to me dirt bike (04 KTM 450 EXC) over to Jordan Creek in the TSF.
[...]
Thinking of being out there around 10:00 or so. Willing to meet up for breakfast or meet you out there if anybody is interested. Can haul one more as well if you're on the way/near SW Portland.
-= Scott

Hmm, Sunday at Jordan sounds interesting, but later in the day would work better for me, like noon?

Meeting there at Noon works for me. You have a place you like to meet-up, not that familiar with the area? Actual ORV area works for me, hopefully it's still open.

If you drive up Jordan Creek Road for about a mile, you cross a bridge (the first time you cross the creek on the gravel road), then just on the other side of the bridge are a couple camping sites and a large parking area on the left -- let's meet at the big parking area.

Had fun. Ended up a late start as the roads sucked over the pass. The North Faces were cold and Icy, but the Southern Faces were great! I swear it was like spring time once we climbed out of the Wilson canyon. Snow was spotty up to about 1000-1200 feet or so. The snow spots are pretty icy though.

We only road for a couple of hours, but the main goal for me was to try out that KTM. Lots of power! Gotta do some more practice on it, before feeling confident on trails. We did try a few trails, one had a bit too much blow down (needed a saw), the other kinda degraded into a giant steep rut. Managed not to drop it on the trails, but did drop the bike 3 times at a average MPH of probably 2...it's a tall bike. Think I may have to work on my running start/dismount technique or pick my stopping places better!

Was great catching up with Remarksman, we'll have to do that again...in couple months...:)

Sorry left my Camera at home, maybe Brian will have proof we actually made it out.